Overview
Prediabetes means blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be called type 2 diabetes. It is an important warning sign because it often progresses to diabetes, but this can frequently be slowed or prevented. It usually causes no symptoms and is found through a blood test.
Symptoms
- Usually no symptoms
- Sometimes increased thirst or hunger
- Sometimes increased tiredness
- Most often detected through routine blood testing
- Darkened skin patches in some people (acanthosis nigricans)
Causes & risk factors
- Insulin resistance
- Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen
- Physical inactivity
- Family history of type 2 diabetes
- Increasing age
- History of gestational diabetes
- Certain ethnic backgrounds with higher risk
Treatment & self-care
Care generally focuses on lifestyle changes, including healthier eating, increased physical activity, and modest weight loss, which can substantially lower the chance of developing diabetes. A clinician arranges periodic blood-sugar monitoring and discusses whether additional measures are warranted. A licensed clinician should confirm the diagnosis and guide a prevention plan.
See a doctor urgently if
- You have risk factors such as family history, excess weight, or a previous high blood-sugar reading
- You develop increased thirst, frequent urination, or unexplained tiredness
- You had diabetes during pregnancy and want follow-up testing